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Law Enforcement Training Program
The Washington County Attorney's Office offers a Law Enforcement Specialized Training program to empower law enforcement officers with legal strategies and expertise. County attorneys are committed to providing law enforcement officers with the tools and knowledge necessary to navigate the complexities of their roles effectively. Officers are invited to explore this opportunity to advance community safety and justice.
Download a copy of the Law Enforcement Training Program (PDF) brochure.
Common Core courses and descriptions
Description
This course will offer tips and strategies beyond simple policing and report writing to include effective interviewing strategies, documenting crime scenes, and obtaining corroborative evidence. Learn the most common pitfalls and oversights in many investigations, as well as how to anticipate follow-up requests before they occur. (2 post credits.)
Course dates
February 11, February 13
Description
The cornerstone of any criminal case is the statements of victims, witnesses, and defendants. Participants will learn about the legal constraints involved in obtaining statements, and practical tips to use during interviews to develop a chargeable, provable, and winning case. (2 post credits.)
Course dates
February 26, August 12, and August 14
Description
The cornerstone of any criminal case is the statements of victims, witnesses, and defendants. Participants will learn about the legal constraints involved in obtaining statements, and practical tips to use during interviews to develop a chargeable, provable, and winning case. (2 post credits.)
Course dates
October 21 and October 23
Description
When does the automobile exception apply? When doesn't it? Can I go into a house to arrest someone with a warrant? What are exigent circumstances anyway? All these questions about warrantless searches and more will be answered. (2 post credits.)
Course dates
March 26, December 2, and December 4
Specialized Training courses and descriptions
Description
Auto theft cases seem relatively straightforward, but there are landmines throughout the investigation of those cases. Learn about auto theft statutes, investigation strategies and tips, and most importantly, "knows or has reason to know the vehicle is stolen" - in other words, finding a suspect in a stolen car is not enough to prove a case. (2 post credits.)
Course dates
April 15, April 17, November 4, and November 6
Description
Brady issues are some of the most complex and important topics a law enforcement officer will face during their career. The course will cover the newly updated Washington County Attorney's Office policy on Brady, as well as pitfalls and strategies to avoid becoming a "Brady Officer" and to prevent potentially devastating consequences related to this hot-button issue. (2 post credits.)
Course dates
February 5, August 19, and August 21
Description
The landscape around marijuana has changed significantly in recent years - from legalization in 2023, to the pending open sales in March 2025, to court interpretations of the statutes, tracking all the permutations can be extremely difficult. This course will cover the statutes currently in effect, the statutes coming up on the horizon, recent case law on marijuana issues, and pitfalls such as the Torgerson case and home-grown packaging confusion. (2 post credits.)
Course dates
July 22 and July 24
Description
with few witnesses and vulnerable victims. We will discuss basic investigation strategies and interviewing techniques, with a great deal of focus on corroboration. Corroboration is the key to building successful cases, and participants in this course will receive guidance on obtaining evidence which will turn the all-too-common credibility contest into a solid, provable case. (2 post credits.)
Course dates
March 11, March 13
Description
Hundreds of drug cases are handled by Washington County law enforcement each year and submitted to the County Attorney's office. In addition, new legislation in 2023 and 2024 has complicated the landscape on how to investigate those cases. Attend this course and learn about those new statutes, tips for investigations, processes for testing and retaining evidence, and submitting a case, as well as the criteria the WCAO uses to charge and prosecute them. (2 post credits.)
Course dates
December 9 and December 11
Description
Drug overdose deaths often transform a straightforward drug possession case into a complex investigation. This course will cover all the essential steps including building a timeline, corroborating and establishing causation, and securing the often-critical electronic evidence. (2 post credits.)
Course dates
May 13 and May 15
Description
Extreme Risk Protection Orders -- Minnesota's Red Flag law -- became available in January 2024. ERPOs provide an avenue for law enforcement and the public to obtain court orders prohibiting individuals who present a risk to public safety from having firearms. Learn what happened with ERPOs in the past year, get critical input on what the law can and cannot do, and receive guidance on who to call and what to do with these cases. (2 post credits.)
Course dates
February 18 and February 20
Description
In certain situations, law enforcement and/or the Washington County Attorney's Office may be able to forfeit/seize assets related to criminal investigations, such as cash and vehicles. Learn how the WCAO handles forfeiture issues, tips for investigative steps to ensure the viability of forfeitures, and pitfalls to avoid losing the ability to forfeit. (2 post credits.)
Course dates
March 18
Description
Minnesota law recognizes the unique characteristics and needs of children. That recognition extends to the prosecution of juveniles for delinquent acts. In order to build your case properly, there are special concepts involved in the interviewing, searching, and charging of juvenile offenders. The experienced juvenile prosecutors of the County Attorney’s office will detail those concepts so that your cases can proceed effectively through juvenile court. (2 post credits.)
Course dates
May 6 and May 8
Description
In most years, many new criminal laws, amendments, and existing criminal statutes take effect on August 1st. Participants will learn about how new legislative changes may affect their duties and be given proactive tips for dealing with those changes. (2 post credits.)
Course dates
July 15 and July 17
Description
Law enforcement deals with people suffering from mental illness on a daily basis. But what happens once mentally ill people enter the court system can be a mystery. This course will take you through the court processes for criminal prosecution and civil commitments—including competency of a defendant to stand trial and the defense of not guilty by mental illness. Understanding these crucial processes will help officers make decisions about how to deal with those suffering from mental illness and what information they need to look for and document during those difficult interactions. (2 post credits.)
Course dates
November 18 and November 20
Description
This course will cover three primary topics: basic facts and functions of the Washington County Attorney's Office, report writing, and basic tips for testifying in court. We will discuss the behind-the-scenes activities in the WCAO, how to write an effective report, and tips and strategies on testifying, whether it's at an omnibus hearing or trial. Come learn how we can team up to achieve criminal justice success. (3 post credits.)
Course dates
January 31, June 20, and October 3
Description
Some of the most important evidence in many criminal cases comes from electronic devices, social media providers, and cell phone service providers. But the rules for these searches are only beginning to be developed by the courts. This course will provide helpful information on when there is probable cause to obtain electronic evidence, how to write search warrants for electronic evidence that will stand up in court, when we can compel a defendant to unlock an electronic device, and more. With courts and the legislature continuing to place limitations on searches for electronic evidence, understanding the current state of the law will ensure that you can get the best evidence available and that it holds up in court and leads to convictions. (2 post credits.)
Course dates
April 8
Description
Human trafficking is a topic gaining much needed attention in the criminal justice arena. This training will focus on what officers can look for during traffic stops or general interactions with potential victims and/or suspects in many situations. We will also review the goals and role of the East Metro Human Trafficking Task Force, as well as highlights from recent investigations and case studies. (2 post credits.)
Course dates
Check back for future dates.
Description
Recent statutory changes, high-profile criminal cases, and incendiary social media outlets have made police use of force the most complex and controversial topic in criminal justice in many years. This course will cover statutory language and interpretation, best practices, and WCAO perspectives on use of force cases. (2 post credits.)
*This course will cover the legal aspects of use of force, not tactical issues. While the course will be approved for standard POST credits, it will not fulfill the Mandatory Learning Objectives criteria.
Course dates
June 10 and June 12
Description
It's a modern-day nightmare: a person shares or creates private sexual images, and those images are posted on the internet as retaliation after a breakup. Worse yet, the image might be used to coerce the victim into providing more images or engaging in sexual activities. New statutes in Minnesota have gone into effect in recent years to prohibit these acts and punish the perpetrators. Attend this course to learn about these statutes, get investigative guidance, and learn how we can work with other agencies, both State and Federal, to prove these cases and obtain the maximum sentences. (2 post credits.)
Course dates
October 7 and October 9